Latest news with #N.E.Johnson
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
American tourist visits 'tiny city' in UK – and one thing baffles him
An American man who is travelling around the UK recently shared a video of his visit to a 'tiny' town in England - but locals were quick to correct him about his misunderstanding and confusion The UK, including over 38 million visitors in 2023, is a prime holiday spot for globe-trotters, with many opting to experience the hustle and bustle of London. Yet, there are those like American hiker N. E. Johnson who have embarked on journeys beyond the capital, including his recent hiking trip in picturesque Wales and an unexpected adventure in Chester. After traversing the Welsh landscapes, Johnson yearned for tranquillity and set his sights on what he believed to be a quaint English retreat. Selecting Chester off the map for some well-deserved rest, he anticipated quiet days filled with reading and writing, away from the tourist frenzy. His impressions of Chester were soon proven wrong when he discovered the city's hidden gems. In his video, he began by sharing his initial thoughts: "Okay, here's what I love about the UK," admiring the charm of Chester, an unheard-of destination prior to his visit. Johnson had hoped for a serene stay post-hiking, eyeing a nondescript hostel to unwind in without the usual rush to museums or attractions. However, as Johnson noted, the small town defied expectations with its vibrant scene: "Well, I was right that it's a tiny little town. I was wrong that there would be nothing here because I've already found two museums, the main shopping area is enormous this is two tiered if you can - there's like a promenade up about the regular street levels. Still shopping in ancient buildings." Chester, with its tiered shopping promenades and historic marvels, swiftly undid his plans for a leisurely week, unveiling instead its bustling town centre and enchanting past, much to his surprise. Strolling through the bustling high street, Johnson was in awe, noting: "This shopping area just goes on and on and on," as he ascended stairs leading to more retailers. He was struck by the remarkable variety of shops, commenting on the fascinating blend of 'normal' stores alongside distinctly 'cool' and 'unique' boutiques showcasing items unseen in his native US. "It seems like a weird niche market that wouldn't be able to support a storefront," Johnson remarked while filming a Christmas-themed shop amid his tour. Panning over to an antique store, he couldn't help but express his astonishment, "Also, oh my God, so many antique stores." But it wasn't just the eclectic retail experience that caught Johnson off guard; the sight of a 'Roman soldier' casually strolling by left him puzzled. Curiosity piqued, he shared: "Not sure what that's about, but, it was too crowded and I couldn't catch up with him." The town's thriving creative scene was another unexpected delight for Johnson as he wandered past numerous art galleries and studios, clearly impressed with the local support for artists. "Like seriously, how does the economics here work," he pondered aloud, his camera trained on yet another art outlet. His tour continued, encapsulating his fascination with a town barely noticeable on a map yet brimming with attractions superior to anything he encountered stateside. His exploration led him to the historic treasures of the locale, such as walkable Roman walls designed to navigate above street-level throngs. Among all, it was the town's 'epic' cathedral that stood out as the crown jewel, captivating Johnson with its grandeur. "Okay, being a fan of the fantasy genre normally, like, I see castles and they're not as cool and big as you'd expect," he said. "And then you see something like this, you just like 'holy shirt'. What the fork do you even do with a building this big?" He continued to question his audience whether every 'tiny town' in Britain was akin to Chester, or if he had fortuitously stumbled upon a small town that was a tourist favourite, likening it to Bath. Brits were quick to jump into the comments section of his video, keen to set him straight on his misconceptions. "Chester has a population of 100,000 people. It is by no means a 'tiny little unknown town'," one user clarified. "If you say tiny town to a local they'll correct you, Chester is a small city," another corrected. A third person chimed in: "Sometimes it takes someone from outside the UK to make you realise the UK isn't so bad. hope you enjoy your trip."
North Wales Live
07-07-2025
- North Wales Live
'I'm an American tourist visiting a small UK city – one thing left me floored'
The UK continues to be a magnet for global travellers, with a staggering 38 million visitors in 2023, although the majority tend to flock to London and its environs. Then there are tourists like American N.E. Johnson who venture beyond the capital's boarders, seeking the diverse experiences that the UK has to offer. Johnson's journey brought him from across the pond for a Welsh hiking adventure, after which he sought the tranquillity of an English town for respite. His choice fell on Chester, a place unfamiliar to him, where he anticipated a quiet stay. He shared his initial thoughts in a video, saying: "Okay, here's what I love about the UK," and "Like, I am in Chester, tiny little town. Never heard of it before. I came here, just thinking I wanna relax after that incredible hiking trip. I'm just gonna find a cheap hostel in the middle of nowhere, spend a week reading, writing, and you know, not rushing around to museums or anything." However, Chester defied his expectations, as he discovered more than he bargained for: "Well, I was right that it's a tiny little town. I was wrong that there would be nothing here because I've already found two museums, the main shopping area is enormous this is two tiered if you can - there's like a promenade up about the regular street levels. Still shopping in ancient buildings." "This shopping area just goes on and on and on," Johnson said as he walked up some stairs to get to the shopping area over the street. He went onto say there was a good mix of 'normal' stores as well as 'cool' and 'unique' stores with things he'd never seen in the US before. "It seems like a weird niche market that wouldn't be able to support a storefront," he commented while showcasing a Christmas-themed retailer. Panning his camera towards an antiques shop along the lower shopping street, he continued: "Also, oh my God, so many antique stores." The distinctive boutiques weren't the sole aspect that caught him off guard, as Johnson informed his audience he just witnessed a 'Roman soldier' stroll past. He remarked: "Not sure what that's about, but, it was too crowded and I couldn't catch up with him." Johnson subsequently expressed his astonishment at how the settlement managed to sustain numerous artists, given the abundance of art galleries and creative outlets dotted throughout the city centre. "Like seriously, how does the economics here work," he enquired of viewers while displaying another artistic establishment. "I'm so confused and intrigued. "Yep, a tiny little town you can hardly notice on the map that puts anything I've seen in the United States to shame," he declared before transitioning to his wonderment at all the historic structures from various periods, including the Roman fortifications that permitted pedestrians to bypass street-level crowds. Nevertheless, the feature that impressed him most profoundly was the 'epic' cathedral. "Okay, being a fan of the fantasy genre normally, like, I see castles and they're not as cool and big as you'd expect," he said. "And then you see something like this, you just like 'holy shirt'. What the fork do you even do with a building this big?" He proceeded to enquire whether every 'tiny town' across the nation resembled Chester, or whether he'd struck gold by randomly selecting a compact settlement beloved by holidaymakers, drawing parallels with Bath. Viewers flocked to the comments beneath his video, with numerous Brits keen to set the record straight regarding his misunderstanding. "Chester has a population of 100,000 people. It is by no means a 'tiny little unknown town'," one person commented. "If you say tiny town to a local they'll correct you, Chester is a small city," a second person commented. Another person added: "Sometimes it takes someone from outside the UK to make you realise the UK isn't so bad. hope you enjoy your trip." Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. It had a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, and it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West and Chester.
